Thursday, December 30, 2010

Fifteen Tips: How Do You Know When it's Time for Elder Care

Fifteen Tips: How Do You Know When It’s Time for Elder Care?
                                                     
As they grow older, most people want to continue living independently in their own homes.  They want to remain self-sufficient in their familiar surroundings; that’s certainly expected and natural.  But all too often the very fact of aging affects people’s ability to care for themselves and manage their daily living and this creates health and safety concerns.  When caring for themselves or their home environment becomes progressively too difficult, it is time for both seniors and their families to consider in-home elder care. 

Here Are 15 Signs That Signal the Need for In Home Elder Care:

  1. The person forgets to eat or does not eat nutritious meals and loses weight.

  1. The mail is piling up and bills have been left unpaid.

  1. The house is unusually dirty and unkept; dirty dishes, garbage and laundry may pile up .

  1. The person forgets to take medication and/or is confused about what to take and when.

  1. The person no longer adequately tends to personal hygiene matters.

  1. Food in the refrigerator has spoiled or is uneaten.

  1. The person makes frequent phone calls at unusual times or is unable to use the telephone.

  1. Items may be put away in unusual places or become “lost” due to short term memory loss.

  1. The person wears the same clothes every day or the clothes are noticeably dirty.

  1.  The person misses appointments due to memory loss or fear of driving.

  1. The person leaves the stove or other appliances on, creating a safety hazard.

  1. The person has difficulty remembering names, situations and locations.

  1. The person is incapable of making decisions.

  1. The person has become isolated and has cut off social contacts.

  1. The person falls down often.

Fortunately, there are agencies that provide the help seniors need to enable them to remain in the comfort and safety of their home and age in place. Companions can provide services such as nutritious meal preparation, housekeeping, laundry, personal care supervision, medication reminders as well as transportation. The aspect of socialization and interaction is also important and the list of non-medical services to help the senior to stay in their own home is practically endless.  

Most agencies provide help for seniors on an hourly basis, but a select few offer “live-in” care as an affordable option.   Live-in care offers the senior’s family peace of mind that their loved one is never alone.

When considering an agency for elder care, be certain to ask the following;

  1. How long has your company been in business?
  2. Is the company bonded and insured?
  3. Is your company registered or licensed with the Florida Agency for Healthcare Administration?
  4. How extensive are your criminal background checks?
  5. How do you select your caregivers?
  6. Can you send me information describing your services and fees?
  7. What is the company’s replacement policy or guarantee?
  8. Is there a contracted period of time?
  9. Are there initiation or exit fees?
  10. Can we set up a time to meet and discuss my care needs?

While the decision to implement in home elder care takes some consideration, it is designed to be a positive experience for the senior and their family.  It may just be the option that enables your loved one to live out their twilight years in the comfort, safety and familiarity of their own home.  

 Blog Submitted by Nancy Ludin, Executive Direcotr of the Jewish Pavilion

 visit http://www.jewishpavilion.org/ for more information about care for our elders.
NO ONE WANTS TO BE FORGOTTEN... It is the mission of the Jewish Pavilion to enhance the qyality of life of our elders in long term care and strengthen their conenction to the community.

Friday, November 26, 2010

Ten Ideas for Interacting with Aging Parents and Grandparents
1. Read religious or inspirational articles, magazines or books
2. Read letters from family and friends
3. Bring recorded messages from family and friends 
4. Bring a video taped greeting from family and friends
5. Help your older adult write or tape letters or send greeting cards
6. Find a pen pal and help your older adult correspond with this new friend…
7. Create a poster or mobile from pictures cut from magazines
8. Bring items related to the season or upcoming holiday to enjoy and discuss
9. Have an indoor picnic with your older adult's favorite picnic food
10. Enjoy a cup of a favorite beverage that you've brought along in your thermos

Submitted by Nancy Ludin,
Executive Director of The Jewish Pavilion

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Four Ways to Choose a Rehabilitation Program

Criteria for Choosing a Rehabilitation Program
(Prepared by Dr. Bob Kaplan)
1.       Personnel- (Physical Therapy, - Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy)Dedicated rehab manager for all questions and concerns
  • Stable permanent full time therapy staff providing the highest quality of care
  • Staff experience and turnover
  • In-house vs. contracted rehab company
  • Areas of expertise: neuro, ortho, cardiac, dementia,etc.
  • Bedside mannerisms
  • Week-end therapy coverage
  • Flexible clinic  coverage hours: 7AM to 7PM
2.       Facility
  • Dedicated rehab space to accommodate client/resident needs
  • Cleanliness
  • Organization of gym
  • Cheerful/upbeat ambiance
3.       Equipment
  • Parallel bars for standing/gait training
  • High/Low mat for bed motility, functional transfers and static/dynamic sitting balance
  • Availability of ADL (Activities of Daily Living) treatment areas: devices to trial the client/resident’s specific goals to maximize independence (Kitchenette to address home management skills such as cooking, cleaning, problem solving, etc.)
  • Vital Stim for treating dysphagia
  • Exercise bike
  • Cuff weights
  • Therapy bands
  • Electrical stimulation
  • Ultrasound
  • Moist heat
4.       Services offered/ Programming
  • Falls and balance
  • Dining
  • Seating and positioning
  • Low vision
  • Incontinence
  • Dementia
  • Pain management
  • Dysphagia (Vital stim)
  • Short stay return to home program
For additional ideas Visit: www.jewishpavilion.org/community-resources/criteria-for-choosing-a-rehabilitation-program/

Friday, November 5, 2010

Ten Questions To Ask When Selecting a Hospice Provider

Choosing a Hospice Provider

Questions to consider in choosing a Hospice provider
  1. Is the provider Medicare certified or covered by your personal insurance plan?
  2. Do they provide the services you need?
  3. Are the nurses Hospice certified?
  4. Do they have an in-patient unit
  5. Do they provide nurse directed 24 hour care, especially after hours?
  6. Do they provide care in multiple settings-Home, Assisted Living, and Skilled Nursing Facilities?
  7. How often do the nurses visit the patient and family?
  8. Do they have Hospice affiliated physicians who visit the patient, and if so, how often?
  9. Do they provide Crisis care, and if so, for how long, and for what qualifying criteria?
  10. Do they follow accepted guidelines for pain and symptom management?
  11. Do they have expertise in aggressive management for the high acuity patient, and offer treatment for other medical problems, exclusive of the patient’s primary qualifying diagnosis?
  12. Do they provide grief and bereavement counseling, especially if the relatives are not located in the area?
  13. Do they provide and deliver medications? If so, what is the turn-around time?
  14. Do they provide and deliver durable medical equipment and supplies? If so, what is the turn-around time?
  15. Is the Hospice a “For-Profit” or “Not-For-Profit” provider?
Vist the Jewish Pavilion website for information pertaining to the aged of all faiths.
http://www.jewishpavilion.org/
Nancy Ludin, Executive Director

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

TheJewishPavilion: Ten Things To Do While Visiting an Older Adult

TheJewishPavilion: Ten Things To Do While Visiting an Older Adult: " No one wants to be forgotten... it is the mission of the Jewish Pavilion to enhance the quality of life of our elders in long term care by..."

TheJewishPavilion: Connect to Elders - 10 Ideas

TheJewishPavilion: Connect to Elders - 10 Ideas: "The Jewish Pavilion staff and volunteers operate like a nusing home on wheels bringing the Jewish community to seniors in long term care. We..."

TheJewishPavilion: Interviewing our Elders- Ten questions to start wi...

TheJewishPavilion: Interviewing our Elders- Ten questions to start wi...: "Potential Interview Questions for gathering Histories of Older Adults 1. What is your name? Why did your parents select this na..."

TheJewishPavilion: How To Make Visits with the Elderly Enjoyable

TheJewishPavilion: How To Make Visits with the Elderly Enjoyable: "Simple opening questions- Tell me about yourself- Where are you from?- Look around the room to see if there are a..."

How To Make Visits with the Elderly Enjoyable

Simple opening questions
-          Tell me about yourself
-          Where are you from?
-          Look around the room to see if there are any photos and if so ask them to
tell you about them
-          What hobbies do you/did you enjoy?
-          What are your favorite books or movies?
-          What is your family like, do you have brothers and sisters, tell me about them?
-          What is/was your husband/wife like ?
-          What legacy would you like to leave?
-          What do you wish you knew at my age that you know now?
-          What role does Judaism fill in your life?
-          How did you celebrate the holidays growing up?
-          (insert holiday) is coming up, how did you celebrate growing up ?

From Nancy Ludin, Executive Director of the Jewish Pavilion

Monday, November 1, 2010

Interviewing our Elders- Ten questions to start with:

Potential Interview Questions for gathering Histories of Older Adults

1.              What is your name? Why did your parents select this name for you? Did you have a nickname?
2.              When and where were you born?
3.              How did your family come to live there?
4.              What was your life like as a child (rural, city), what kind of games did you play?
5.              What was your favorite toy and why?
6.              What was your favorite thing to do for fun (movies, beach, etc.)?
7.              What was school like for you as a child? What subjects did you like best/least?  Where did you attend grade school? High school? College?
8.              Who were your childhood heroes?
9.              What were your favorite songs and music?
10.          Did you have any pets? If so, what kind and what were their names?
From Nancy Ludin, Executive Director, Jewish Pavilion
http://www.jewishpavilion.org/

Thursday, October 28, 2010

Connect to Elders - 10 Ideas

The Jewish Pavilion staff and volunteers operate like a nusing home on wheels bringing the Jewish community to seniors in long term care. We provide one-on-one vistation as well as holiday and social programs for people of all faiths.

Ideas for Connecting with Seniors...
  1. Read religious or inspirational articles, magazines or books.
  2. Read letters from family and friends.
  3. Bring messages from family and friends recorded on cassette tape.
  4. Bring a video taped greeting from family and friends.
  5. Help your older adult write or type letters or send greeting cards.
  6. Find a pen pal and help your older adult correspond with this new friend.
  7. Create a poster or mobile from pictures cut from magazines.
  8. Bring items related to the season or upcoming holiday to enjoy and talk about.
  9. Have an indoor picnic with your older adult's favorite picnic food.
  10. Enjoy a cup of a favorite beverage that you've brought along in your thermos.


From Nancy Ludin, Executive Director , Jewish Pavilion

Ten Things To Do While Visiting an Older Adult

 No one wants to be forgotten... it is the mission of the Jewish Pavilion  to enhance the quality of life of our elders in long term care by strengthening their connnection to the community.

10 Ideas From the Jewish Pavilion to facilitate conversation with seniors.

  1. Talk about what you both have been up to since your last visit together.
  2. Bring photos of family and friends-from days gone by or some recent snapshots.
  3. Create a photo album, framed photograph collection or poster to hang up.
  4. Make a special scrapbook celebrating your older adult's lifetime.
  5. Write or tape your older adult's memoirs or autobiography…Provide copies to the family.
  6. Share your own favorite stories and memories.
  7. Bring vacation photos, souvenirs, maps and stories of your travels.
  8. Read aloud from newspapers and magazines to help your older adult stay in touch.
  9. Look at magazines that have a lot of large colorful pictures together.
  10. Subscribe to your older adult's hometown newspaper and bring it along.
From Nancy Ludin, Executive Director